netting, to the trunk of a tree, 1 to 20 feet from the ground. Attach 
it to the tree so as to form a three-cornered pocket, as shown in Fig. 3. 
Fill this with suet or scraps of meat fat of any kind. The suet 
is best, as it never freezes solid and the birds can always pick pieces 
from it. Lean meat is not good, as it becomes dry and hard. It will 
require about 3 pounds of fat to fill this basket at first; after that, chop 
Fig. 2 
•ig. 1 
Fig. 4 Fig. 3 
trimmings, etc., may be added at any time. The first season the birds 
will be shy about being watched, but the second year they will be very 
tame. This, of course, applies only to a tree very near a window in 
the house. 
For the seed-eating birds, I have found hemp seed the best. Buy- 
ing it from any seedsman in, say, 20- or 40-pound bags, it is very 
cheap, about 3 cents a pound, while at the bird store or grocer's it is 
1 cents a pound. Rice, samp, coarse oatmeal or cracked corn will 
do. The best place to scatter it is on a porch rooj, if not too sloping, 
as the birds are safer from cats while feeding. If possible, put the 
seed where it is a little sheltered from strong winds. 
In case of snow a place must be swept, or it can be scattered on 
the porch floor, but it is better to keep it in the same places as much 
as possible. During a continued snow or rain I use an empty wooden 
box (see Fig. 4), with the open end away from the wind, so that the 
snow cannot blow in. When the storm is over, it can be removed. 
In using hemp seed, do not be misled by empty hulls into thinking that 
there is still uneaten food. This class of birds includes the Juncos, 
cardinal grosbeaks, song sparrows, kinglets and purple finches. 
